On the TunneySide of Sports May 17, 2021 #848 Up next… From Lombardi to Sinatra!
After further review… Last Friday, May 14th was the 23rd anniversary of Francis Albert Sinatra’s passing. He was 83. It will always be significant to me since it was in May 1985 that I met him. Going back, I was a teenager when he first came on the music scene in the 1940s. His popularity as a teen-idol was phenomenal. Perhaps the G.O.A.T. of singers!
Anyway, in May 1985, I was speaking for Budget Rent a Car at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas before it became the Bellagio. I noticed that Frank Sinatra was performing at Caesars Palace that evening. I called Herb Alpert (TJB) for whom I had worked in the early 1970s to see if he might have a connection to get me a ticket for the Sinatra show. I told him I didn’t want a comp.
He called later with good news. So, after my Budget speech, I walked to Caesars. I picked up my seating ticket at Will Call noticing there was “no charge.” How nice of Herb! I was ushered down to the front of the stage and sat 3 seats from where Sinatra would be standing. I had brought with me my 2-cassette album (“Here’s to the Winners”) that I used to close my presentations with his version of “Winners.” The subject of many of my talks being about “striving” to win.
He did 1:15 hours on stage and was sensational! I gave my album to the back-stage guard. I didn’t want to leave, so, I stayed in the showroom until Mr. Sinatra exited — with my album. As I walked into Caesars casino, I heard. “Jim Tunney – white courtesy phone – you have a call.” A call? No one knows I’m at Caesars! I picked up the phone and a voice said, “Jim, it’s Artie! Stay right there, I’m coming to meet you.” A moment later this little guy – Artie – jumps into my arms with my album in his hand. He says, “I haven’t seen you since I left Green Bay.”
It turns out Artie used to work for Vince Lombardi, head coach of the Green Bay Packers and I hadn’t seen him in years. I said, “What are you doing here?” He said he now works for Sinatra and follows with “He wants to meet you.” I said no way! Artie said, “Yes he does, come with me.” Artie takes me over to where Sinatra and several (many) of his party were sitting. As we approached, Sinatra stands up and said: “ Mr. Tunney, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
We shook hands, but I replied, “Mr. Sinatra, you got this backward. It’s my pleasure to meet you.” We talked for about 10-minutes (seemed like 10-seconds) about NFL football as well as he wanted to know about what I did off the field. Artie told me later, Sinatra and they would always watch Monday Night Football on ABC (MNF). Artie said, “He (Frank) would always ask, ‘Is Tunney working tonight?). I had no idea!
Sinatra later invited me to play in Barbara’s (Sinatra) Eisenhower Hospital Charity Golf Tournament in Palm Springs. I played there on three occasions.
As I walked back to the Dunes, I kept humming, “Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars…” It was a glorious evening. What an honor!
Will you share a time you had with someone you admired from afar?
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There are many golf stories in Jim’s books such as Raymond Floyd having to qualify by playing an unknown caddy (Lee Trevino) in their early days. See the website for all products.
To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
